Classic Nike Print Ad Retrospective

For those that remember the early days of the Nike takeover, it wasn’t just great sneaker designs and technology that propelled the brand to the front of the pack. Nike’s 80’s and 90’s ad campaigns gave the brand an added level of mystique and intrigue that not only drew attention to the products, but established their image as a forward-thinking, cutting edge force to be reckoned with. There were many cases where the shoes practically sold themselves, but when that fell short, advertising powerhouse Wieden & Kennedy stepped in and are now considered to be largely responsible for helping to mold Nike’s early image.

Many other brands took notice of the Swoosh approach and sought to replicate the fun and cool-factor of those early Nike ads, proving once and for all that just having a great product is only half the battle when it comes to selling goods and building a brand’s name and recognition. Keep reading after the jump for a walk down memory lane as we present a look at some vintage Nike ads sure to stir up some nostalgia for older sneakerheads and offer a nice history lesson to some of the youngsters who only know most of these models from their Retro returns. Via NT